To: Posts and District Officers From: Commander, Department of Massachusetts VFW Date: December 4, 2017 Subject: General Order # 6 General Orders #6-2017 Congratulations to The Following Posts For Achieving 100%+ In Membership: Post Name POST # SSG Robert R. Pirelli Post 12158 BOSTON 1 126.47% Leonard D. Chesmore Post 8507 HOLLISTON 15 114.28% S/Sgt. George J. Hall Post 620 STONEHAM 18 107.04% West Roxbury Post 2902 WEST ROXBURY 1 100.00% South Boston Post 6536 SOUTH BOSTON 1 100.00% Patrick F. Mc Carthy Post 3422 EASTHAMPTON 7 100.00% Forest Park Post 7352 SPRINGFIELD 7 100.00% L/Cpl. Richard O. Demaris Post 675 BRADFORD 10 100.00% Jack Patterson Post 929 FRAMINGHAM 15 100.00% Congratulations to the following members on their selection: NATIONAL AIDE DE CAMP-MEDAL OF HONOR CLASS: Thomas Hudner, (RIP) Post 6712, Revere, MA Thomas Kelley, Post 529, Somerville, MA NATIONAL DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF: Anthony Manfredi, Post 2569, Teaticket, MA Gamalier Rosa Flores, Post 754, Amherst, MA ASSISTANT INSPECTOR GENERAL: Rene Fuertes, 3389, Randolph, MA James Morrissey, Post 3264, Mansfield, MA VETERANS IDENTIFICATION CARD: VA has announced that the application process for the national Veterans Identification Card (VIC) is now available for Veterans yet another action honoring their service. This has been mandated through legislation since 2015 to honor Veterans, and today s rollout of the ID card fulfills that overdue promise. Only those Veterans with honorable service will be able to apply for the ID card, which will provide proof of military service, and may be accepted by retailers in lieu of the standard DD-214 form to obtain promotional discounts and other services where offered
to Veterans. The new Veterans Identification Card provides a safer and more convenient and efficient way for most Veterans to show proof of service, said VA secretary Dr. David J. Shulkin. With the card, Veterans with honorable service to our nation will no longer need to carry around their paper DD-214s to obtain Veteran discounts and other services. The VIC provides a more portable and secure alternative for those who served the minimum obligated time in service, but did not meet the retirement or medical discharge threshold. Veterans who served in the armed forces, including the reserve components, and who have a discharge of honorable or general (under honorable conditions) can request a VIC. To request a VIC, Veterans must visit vets.gov, click on Apply for Printed Veteran ID Card on the bottom left of the page sign in or create an account. Veterans who apply for a card should receive it within 60 days and can check delivery status of their cards at vets.gov. A digital version of the VIC will be available online by mid-december. POST OFFICERS MEMBERSHIP: Since our last officer s dues notice letter, we had three officers removed from office by national for failing to pay their dues. Pursuant to the provisions of Section 215 of the National By-Laws: Post officers who failure to pay current year s dues are removed from office and will have forfeited their eligibility to hold any office for the remainder of the administrative year. Please ensure that your officers who are annual members, pay their dues thru 6/30/2018. TRUSTEE REPORTS: Attention of Post Commanders is directed to section 218 of the Manual of Procedure, Duty of Trustees. Trustees Report of Audit must be completed in detail at the close of each quarter, one of which ended on September 30 th, 2017. To date, audits for Quarter 1 ending June 30 th and Quarter 2 ending September 30 th, 2017 should have already been sent to the department Quartermaster. Please ensure this has been completed. SPECIAL PROJECT: Commanders Special Project is the Massachusetts VFW Foundation Inc. It is time we take care of ourselves so that we can help more veterans in the future. If not us, then who? The Foundations mission is to support the core programs of the Massachusetts Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States. The VFW is dedicated to helping veterans and their families rebuild their lives. You can make a difference by donating to the Massachusetts VFW Foundation. Your generous donation will meet vital needs and improve the lives of thousands of Massachusetts veterans and their families. Donations can be made using the relief fund. Mail donation to: VFW Department of Massachusetts, State House, 24 Beacon Street 546-1, Boston, MA 02133 Memo line: Special Project VETERANS & MILITARY SUPPORT PROGRAMS: The VFW Adopt-a-Unit s goal is to develop supportive relationships with units before, during and after deployments to help deliver the vast network of free resources the VFW has available for the military and their families. Adopt-a- Unit relationships are created and maintained by individual VFW Posts who work closely with unit commanders and senior enlisted to provide direct support. As the conflict in Afghanistan winds down and more of our deployed service members return home, it is vital that VFW Posts and Auxiliaries use MAP s Adopt-a-Unit program to continue supporting our military! Instead of planning deployment/welcome homes, work with your local units on: family days, FRG meetings, patriotic
holidays, community outreach activities, parades and park clean-ups. Now is a great time to develop relationships with your local National Guard. VETERANS & MILITARY SUPPORT PROGRAMS: You ve done the work. Let VMS know! Last year through the Veterans & Military Support programs, the VFW provided support to almost 400,000 service members, veterans and their families. We know your support at the local level goes far beyond what is reported. Help us let the general public know the impact the VFW has on military families and veterans by reporting your holiday events to your Veterans & Military Support Chairman. THE VFW FOUNDATION POST/VFW AUXILIARY COMMUNITY SUPPORT GRANT continues to accept applications during the FY2017 grant cycle. To date, this grant has distributed nearly $150,000 to VFW Posts and Auxiliaries during the grant cycle. The Post/VFW Auxiliary Community Support Grant has distributed grants to 99 Posts and 50 Auxiliaries to help assist with projects supporting local nonprofits, performing important community outreach or enhancements to Post buildings for this purpose. Eligible Posts and Auxiliaries received up to $1,000 each for their projects. The VFW Foundation will accept applications until all funding is awarded during this grant cycle, which ends August 31, 2018. If you have questions about Foundation grants, contact Jason Couch, VFW Foundation Grants Coordinator at (816) 968-1174 or email jcouch@vfw.org. THE HOME DEPOT FOUNDATION COMMUNITY IMPACT GRANT CLOSED FOR 2017: The Home Depot (HD) Foundation Community Impact Grant is closed for the remainder of 2017. The HD Foundation will begin accepting applications for 2018 on February 1. Eligible VFW Posts may receive up to $5,000 to fix up their buildings; however, of course, there is no guarantee of funding. To help you complete the 2018 application, the VFW Foundation will provide an updated step-by-step how-to-apply guide prepared for your usage. Keep an eye out for updates on The Home Depot (HD) Foundation Community Impact Grant in upcoming issues of the Headquarters Bulletin. Thank You! Keep an eye out for updates on The Home Depot (HD) Foundation Community Impact Grant in upcoming issues of the Headquarters Bulletin. Thank You! NATIONAL LEGISLATIVE SERVICE/ACTION CORPS: Our Voices Were Heard! We asked veterans advocates like you to contact their Representatives and Senators and demand they reject any proposal in the fiscal year 2018 National Defense Authorization Act (FY18 NDAA) that would have raised TRICARE costs for current beneficiaries. Our voices were heard, and this provision was not included in the final piece of legislation! Last year s NDAA contained language that significantly increases TRICARE costs for those joining after January 1, 2018. However, a clause was inserted that prevented these increases from applying to current service members and retirees. The FY18 NDAA contained a provision that would have removed this grandfather clause. After immense pressure from the VFW, the clause was left in place. Congress has now voted on and passed the final version of the bill, which contained multiple provisions that the VFW advocated for, such as: A 2.4% pay increase for our service members. The preservation of Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) for dual-military families. The permanent extension of the Special Survivor Indemnity Allowance (SSIA).
A requirement to review and release classified documents related to toxic exposures if more than 100 service members were intentionally exposed to a substance that has caused at least one of them to become ill. The strengthening of current DOD sexual assault policies and extended protections for victims. Vigilance and persistence is key in the fight against harmful legislation and bad policy. We urge you to read the Action Corps Weekly for more critical updates, respond to any Action Alerts, and remain steadfast in the fight for veterans rights. MEMBERSHIP: The National Membership Department would like to make you and your posts aware that the VFW National Headquarters has initiated a telephone campaign through a third-party vendor to members who will expire in the month of December. If your members call you regarding the validity of the phone call, the company being using is called MDS. If a member of your post calls to inquire, please pass along this information to them. RECRUITING NOTES: The time to recruit is now! You have to leave the Post in order to recruit new members. Find local events and ask if you can have a booth. Farmers markets, gun shows, trade shows and fall festivals are all great places to recruit local veterans. Bring along recruiting materials as well as materials on VFW Programs. If you need materials from Membership, call or email us at 1-888-JOIN-VFW or membership@vfw.org. RECRUITING NOTES: Encourage annual members to take advantage of the life member installment plan. Encourage Life installment plan and annual members to take advantage of the automatic payment option. DIGITAL MEMBERSHIP CARDS: Members now have the ability to download their digital version of their membership card. Depending on whether a member has an I-Phone or Android, they will be able to download and access their digital membership card from the VFW app. [This will not replace the physical VFW membership card - we will still be sending out membership cards to all our annual and Life members. This is intended as another option for our members' convenience. When asked to show a VFW membership card, a member can either produce their physical card out of their wallet or display their digital card on their smart phone. VFW NATIONAL PUBLIC SERVANT AWARDS: Post are encouraged to submit nominees (one for each career area) to the State Headquarters no later than January 15, 2018: VFW National Law Enforcement Award VFW National Firefighter Award VFW National Emergency Medical Technician Award VOICE OF DEMOCRACY, PATRIOT S PEN AND TEACHER OF THE YEAR AWARDS BANQUET: Department awards banquet will be held on
Sunday, January 21, 2018 commencing at 12 noon. Your attendance at this banquet honors our youth who have achieved first place in their districts and shows the dedication of our VFW and Auxiliary members for this great program. In addition, we will be honoring our Teacher of the year recipients. Tickets: $32.00 Per Person, Table of 10 $320.00. If you wish to seat together, please order tickets at the same time. Ticket Deadline: Jan 11 th 2018. order ONLINE at: www.vfwmabanquet.eventbrite.com (credit card processing fee applies for all online orders) MAIL: DEPT OF MA VFW, 24 Beacon Street, Suite 546-1, Statehouse, Boston, MA 01233 MEMOLINE: VOD Banquet. Please note: The Parents or Guardians of the student winners will be Invited Guests of The Department. There Is No Need to Purchase Tickets for Them. COUNCIL OF ADMINISTRATION MEETING: The Next Council of Administration Meeting is scheduled for Saturday, January 13 th, 2018 at 10:30 AM at Millbury VFW Post 3329 16 S. Main Street Millbury, MA. Council of Administration meeting is open to any member in good standings. The COA meeting will begin at 10:30AM. In your Comradeship, Eric Segundo Department Commander Veterans of Foreign Wars